The drama is based on the inspirational true story of a group of schoolgirls whose petition to
save their friend from deportation inspired a movement, which would
eventually help change immigration practices in Scotland.

When 15-year-old Agnesa Murselaj, a Roma from Kosovo, and pupil at
Glasgow’s Drumchapel High, was taken by Immigration officers in a dawn
raid, her friends refused to let her go without a fight. As she and her
family awaited deportation at a detention centre in London, fellow
pupils Amal, from Somalia; Roza, from Kurdistan; Ewelina, a Polish Roma;
and local Drumchapel teenagers Emma, Jennifer and Toni-Lee, banded
together to campaign for her release.

What started as a school
petition grew into one of the most memorable human rights campaigns of a
generation as they lobbied the Home Office, challenged the First
Minister in public, and won the support of their community.

Gary Lewis plays Drumchapel High’s bilingual support teacher Euan Girvan, and Greg Hemphill takes on the role of First Minister of Scotland Jack
McConnell.

The
story of the girls’ campaign was originally captured in an Amnesty
International award-winning BBC Scotland documentary in 2005 and has
since inspired a stage musical. Now, this talented young cast will bring a
whole new version of the Glasgow Girls story to life for the screen with
contemporary musical moments enhancing the story and themes.

It was commissioned by Zai Bennett, Former Controller, BBC Three, who
said: "Glasgow Girls is a thrilling blend of true story, high drama and
musical storytelling. Only a channel like BBC Three would attempt to
re-tell a hard hitting immigration story in this way."

The film
was directed by Brian Welsh who co-wrote the script with Joe Barton, produced by Kate Cook for Minnow Films and is part of the BBC’s year-long contribution to the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games.